Formed December 14, 1790 (68th county)
Bath County (4,205), Warm Springs* (123), Hot Springs* (738)
The traditional Classical Revival courthouse was erected in 1915. The facility is on Courthouse Hill between Virginia State Highway 645 and United States Highway 220. The architects are T. J. Collins and Son for this red brick building. The building was enlarged in 1980. It features columns and a tower with a working clock. Veteran memorials are on the grounds. There were 1843 and 1908 versions earlier. Bath was the county seat until 1908 when Warm Springs assumed the role. Bath County was established on December 14, 1790 from Botetourt, Augusta, and Greenbrier counties as the 68th county. The county is named for Bath, England. The county seat is named for the local springs.
Bath County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Supervisors. Three Circuit Court Judges and Eight District Court Judges serve Bath, Alleghany, Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, and Rockbridge counties and Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities and Fifty-nine Magistrate Court Judges serve Bath, Amherst, Alleghany, Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Highland, Nelson, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Roanoke, and Rockbridge counties and Buena Vista, Covington, Danville, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities. The county is on the western border with West Virginia. Roanoke, Virginia is southwest and Richmond, Virginia is east of the county. The county center is 9.7 miles Northeast of Warm Springs nearer McClung. The county is surrounded clockwise by Highland, Augusta, Rockbridge, and Alleghany counties and West Virginia.
The area of the county is 532 square miles. It is 18 out of 133 in the state. It ranks 131 out of 133 in population in the state. It has a density of 7.9 persons per square mile making it 132 out of 133 in the state. Bath County has 0.0% of its population in its incorporated areas since it has no incorporated cities. United States Highway 220 passes northeast to southwest in the county from Highland County to Alleghany County. The county is a fat diagonal. Warm Springs is located near the center of the county. Hot Springs is in the southwest quarter of the county. Warm Springs is the county seat and Hot Springs is the largest populated area. Warm Springs is 2.9% of the county population although it is unincorporated. Hot Springs is also unincorporated and 17.6% of the county population.
Warm Springs (unincorporated)
